Saint Louis College – San Fernando, La Union proudly participated in the 20th NAKEM (National Alliance for Knowledge, Empowerment, and Meaning) International Conference held at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, USA, from November 19 to 21, 2025. With the theme “Coming Full Circle: Reevaluating Language Justice, Cultural Democracy, and Emancipatory Education,” the conference brought together scholars, educators, and policymakers from around the globe to deepen the discourse on linguistic equity and cultural empowerment.
Dr. Kelvin Villanueva, a faculty member from the College of Arts, Technology, and Education (CASTE), represented SLC under the International Faculty Mobility (IFM) program, successfully presented a blind-reviewed research study on Ilokano language evolution in social media spaces—one of the select works recognized for its scholarly merit.
The event featured renowned keynote speakers whose work focuses on language justice, cultural diversity, and transformative education. Government leaders involved in first-language and mother-tongue policy development also contributed to the discussions, enriching the global dialogue on inclusive and context-responsive education.
SLC’s participation in this esteemed international gathering reinforces the institution’s commitment to internationalization, research excellence, and global academic engagement. By being part of respected platforms such as NAKEM, the College continues to expand its international presence, highlight the strength of its academic community, and advance its mission of forming globally competent educators and researchers.
